Today, I celebrate a brother, comrade, and patriot whose life story is indelibly woven into Nigeria’s democratic tapestry: Senator Shehu Sani. As he turns 58, I am moved to reflect on a journey defined by courage, conscience, and unyielding devotion to justice and human dignity. Shehu and I came of age in an era when to speak of democracy was an act of defiance, when conviction could lead to incarceration, and when the cost of patriotism was personal suffering.
Our friendship was forged in the crucible of resistance. As young student union leaders, we learned early that silence in the face of oppression is complicity. From our formative activism to our roles in the Campaign for Democracy, Shehu and I stood shoulder to shoulder with others who dared to insist that Nigerians must be governed by the consent of the people. The annulment of the June 12, 1993 presidential election; freely and fairly won by Chief Moshood Kashimawo Abiola, was a defining rupture in our national conscience. When the junta sought to ethnicise the struggle, portraying it as a Yoruba cause, Shehu rose with defiant clarity from the North to proclaim that justice is neither regional nor sectarian. It is universal.
We worked together, bridging the activism of the North and South, determined that the flame of freedom would not die. When the regime struck back, Shehu paid the highest price of conviction. Arrested repeatedly and ultimately condemned to life imprisonment under General Sani Abacha’s dictatorship, he bore persecution with uncommon dignity. Behind bars, he transformed captivity into a crucible of enlightenment: mentoring inmates, writing, and distilling pain into purpose. His release, when democracy was finally restored, symbolised not merely his personal freedom but the triumph of the human spirit over tyranny.
Since then, Shehu Sani has remained steadfast to the ideals that once made us fugitives for freedom. Through literature, civic engagement, and public service, he has continued to challenge power and defend the voiceless and vulnerable. As founder of the Civil Rights Congress of Nigeria, as a writer, and as a legislator, he has spoken truth with fearless eloquence. Whether confronting sectarian violence, decrying injustice, or championing peace, he has been guided by an unshakeable moral compass.
It was therefore fitting that on June 12, 2025, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR conferred on him the national honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON), recognising his indelible contributions to Nigeria’s democratic rebirth.
I was deeply honoured to share that moment with him, as comrades once again reunited under the light of freedom we long fought for.
My brother, Shehu Sani’s recent return to the All Progressives Congress reflects his abiding faith in reconciliation and progress. It affirms the redemptive power of dialogue; values that shaped our activism and now define our leadership. His reintegration into our enlarged political fold both in Kaduna State and the nation, at large, speaks to his enduring commitment to Kaduna State’s unity and Nigeria’s collective advancement.
Today, I salute not merely Shehu Sani, the public figure, but the indomitable spirit he embodies: the conscience that refuses to grow weary, the idealist who would rather suffer for truth than prosper in silence. May Allah bless him with strength, wisdom, and long life. And may his example remind us always that democracy is not a gift but a duty; one that demands courage, sacrifice, and eternal vigilance. Happy Birthday, my brother and Comrade.
Senator Uba Sani, CON
Governor of Kaduna State
October 29, 2025.